Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Kurt Rambis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kurt Rambis and Hakeem Olajuwon, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Games against each other

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Hakeem Olajuwon played 18 years in the NBA, 4 more than Kurt Rambis, who played 14. Hakeem Olajuwon had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Kurt Rambis had his rookie season in 1981-82. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Hakeem Olajuwon 18 15 1984-85 to 2001-02
Kurt Rambis 14 9 1981-82 to 1994-95

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1984-851981-82
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 35.5 20.6 5.4 6.5 11.9 1.4 1.2 2.7 2.9 4.2 8.3 15.3 .538 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.7 .613
Kurt Rambis 64 17.7 4.6 1.8 3.6 5.4 0.9 0.9 1.2 1.2 2.6 1.8 3.6 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.8 .504
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 37.4 21.2 6.6 6.4 13.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 2.2 4.4 8.4 17.6 .477 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 9.2 .478
Kurt Rambis 14 19.9 5.9 2.3 3.9 6.1 0.8 0.6 0.9 1.2 3.4 2.4 4.6 .516 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.9 .615

Season 2

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1985-861982-83
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 68 36.3 23.5 4.9 6.6 11.5 2.0 2.0 3.4 2.9 4.0 9.2 17.5 .526 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 7.9 .645
Kurt Rambis 78 23.2 7.5 2.1 4.7 6.8 1.2 1.3 0.8 1.9 3.0 3.0 5.3 .569 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.1 .687
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 20 38.3 26.9 5.1 6.8 11.8 2.0 2.0 3.5 2.2 4.4 10.3 19.4 .530 0.0 0.1 .000 6.4 10.0 .638
Kurt Rambis 15 25.1 7.5 1.8 4.2 6.0 1.3 0.9 1.1 1.5 3.4 3.0 5.3 .570 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .657

Season 3

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1986-871983-84
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 75 36.8 23.4 4.2 7.2 11.4 2.9 1.9 3.4 3.0 3.9 9.0 17.8 .508 0.0 0.1 .200 5.3 7.6 .702
Kurt Rambis 47 15.8 3.6 1.7 3.9 5.7 0.7 0.6 0.3 1.2 2.3 1.3 2.4 .558 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .636
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 10 38.9 29.2 3.9 7.4 11.3 2.5 1.3 4.3 3.6 4.4 11.0 17.9 .615 0.0 0.1 .000 7.2 9.7 .742
Kurt Rambis 21 20.4 6.7 1.6 4.2 5.8 0.7 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.7 2.9 4.4 .652 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.6 .636

Season 4

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1987-881984-85
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 79 35.8 22.8 3.8 8.3 12.1 2.1 2.1 2.7 3.1 4.1 9.0 17.5 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 4.8 6.9 .695
Kurt Rambis 82 19.7 5.2 2.0 4.4 6.4 0.8 1.0 0.6 1.2 2.6 2.2 4.0 .554 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.3 .660
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 37.5 5.0 11.8 16.8 1.8 2.3 2.8 2.3 3.5 14.0 24.5 .571 0.0 0.3 .000 9.5 10.8 .884
Kurt Rambis 19 19.7 6.1 2.2 4.6 6.8 0.9 0.9 0.5 1.0 2.7 2.5 4.3 .593 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.5 .679

Season 5

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1988-891985-86
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 36.9 24.8 4.1 9.4 13.5 1.8 2.6 3.4 3.4 4.0 9.6 19.0 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 5.5 8.0 .696
Kurt Rambis 74 21.3 5.5 2.1 4.9 7.0 0.9 0.9 0.4 1.3 2.7 2.2 3.6 .595 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.6 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 25.3 3.5 9.5 13.0 3.0 2.5 2.8 2.5 4.3 10.5 20.3 .519 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.3 .680
Kurt Rambis 14 19.1 4.8 1.9 4.1 5.9 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.3 2.8 1.9 3.2 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.3 .722

Season 6

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1989-901986-87
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 38.1 24.3 3.6 10.4 14.0 2.9 2.1 4.6 3.9 3.8 9.8 19.6 .501 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 6.5 .713
Kurt Rambis 78 19.4 5.7 2.0 3.8 5.8 0.8 0.9 0.5 1.3 2.6 2.1 4.0 .521 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.0 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.3 18.5 3.8 7.8 11.5 2.0 2.5 5.8 2.8 4.8 7.8 17.5 .443 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.3 .706
Kurt Rambis 17 12.6 4.6 0.9 3.0 3.9 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.8 2.5 1.4 2.4 .585 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.0 .912

Season 7

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1990-911987-88
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 56 36.8 21.2 3.9 9.8 13.8 2.3 2.2 3.9 3.1 3.9 8.7 17.1 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 4.9 .769
Kurt Rambis 70 12.1 4.0 1.5 2.4 3.8 0.8 0.6 0.2 0.8 1.5 1.5 2.7 .548 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 3 43.0 22.0 4.0 10.7 14.7 2.0 1.3 2.7 2.7 3.7 8.7 15.0 .578 0.0 0.3 .000 4.7 5.7 .824
Kurt Rambis 19 9.8 2.7 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.5 1.1 1.8 .618 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .692

Season 8

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1991-921988-89
Team Houston RocketsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 70 37.7 21.6 3.5 8.6 12.1 2.2 1.8 4.3 2.7 3.8 8.4 16.8 .502 0.0 0.0 .000 4.7 6.1 .766
Kurt Rambis 75 29.8 11.1 3.6 5.8 9.4 2.1 1.3 0.8 2.0 2.8 4.3 8.4 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.3 .734
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1992-931989-90
Team Houston RocketsCharlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisSuns Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 39.5 26.1 3.5 9.6 13.0 3.5 1.8 4.2 3.2 3.7 10.3 19.5 .529 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 7.0 .779
Kurt Rambis 74 25.7 6.2 2.1 5.0 7.1 1.8 1.4 0.5 1.4 2.8 2.6 5.0 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.7 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 12 43.2 25.7 4.3 9.7 14.0 4.8 1.8 4.9 3.8 3.1 10.3 19.8 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.3 .827
Kurt Rambis 16 24.1 4.2 2.4 5.3 7.7 1.4 0.5 0.5 1.1 3.2 1.5 3.4 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.8 .679

Season 10

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1993-941990-91
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 80 41.0 27.3 2.9 9.1 11.9 3.6 1.6 3.7 3.4 3.6 11.2 21.2 .528 0.1 0.2 .421 4.9 6.8 .716
Kurt Rambis 62 14.5 3.6 1.2 3.0 4.3 1.0 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.7 1.3 2.7 .497 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.4 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 23 43.0 28.9 2.4 8.7 11.0 4.3 1.7 4.0 3.6 3.6 11.6 22.3 .519 0.1 0.2 .500 5.6 7.0 .795
Kurt Rambis 4 13.3 1.0 2.0 1.5 3.5 1.0 1.3 0.3 1.0 1.5 0.5 1.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 11

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1994-951991-92
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 39.6 27.8 2.4 8.4 10.8 3.5 1.8 3.4 3.3 3.5 11.1 21.5 .517 0.0 0.2 .188 5.6 7.5 .756
Kurt Rambis 28 13.6 3.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 1.3 0.4 0.5 0.9 1.6 1.4 2.9 .463 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.6 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 22 42.2 33.0 2.0 8.3 10.3 4.5 1.2 2.8 3.1 4.3 13.9 26.2 .531 0.1 0.2 .500 5.0 7.4 .681
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1995-961992-93
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 38.8 26.9 2.4 8.4 10.9 3.6 1.6 2.9 3.4 3.4 10.7 20.8 .514 0.0 0.2 .214 5.5 7.6 .724
Kurt Rambis 72 11.4 2.5 1.1 2.1 3.2 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.6 1.7 0.9 1.8 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.9 .662
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 8 41.1 22.4 2.1 7.0 9.1 3.9 1.9 2.1 3.6 3.5 9.4 18.4 .510 0.0 0.1 .000 3.6 5.0 .725
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1996-971993-94
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 78 36.6 23.2 2.2 7.0 9.2 3.0 1.5 2.2 3.6 3.2 9.3 18.3 .510 0.1 0.2 .313 4.5 5.7 .787
Kurt Rambis 50 12.7 3.3 1.7 2.1 3.8 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.5 1.8 1.2 2.3 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.4 .648
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 16 39.4 23.1 2.9 8.0 10.9 3.4 2.1 2.6 2.9 3.8 9.2 15.6 .590 0.0 0.2 .000 4.8 6.5 .731
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1997-981994-95
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 47 34.7 16.4 2.5 7.3 9.8 3.0 1.8 2.0 2.7 3.2 6.5 13.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.5 .755
Kurt Rambis 26 7.5 1.7 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 .514 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 38.0 20.4 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.4 1.0 3.2 2.6 3.6 7.8 19.8 .394 0.0 0.2 .000 4.8 6.6 .727
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1998-99-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 50 35.7 18.9 2.1 7.4 9.6 1.8 1.6 2.5 2.8 3.2 7.5 14.5 .514 0.1 0.3 .308 3.9 5.4 .717
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 31.0 13.3 1.3 6.0 7.3 0.5 1.3 0.8 1.3 4.5 5.8 13.5 .426 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.0 .875
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 1999-00-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 44 23.8 10.3 1.5 4.8 6.2 1.4 0.9 1.6 1.7 2.0 4.4 9.6 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.5 .616
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 2000-01-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 58 26.6 11.9 2.1 5.3 7.4 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.4 2.4 4.9 9.8 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.4 .621
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Hakeem Olajuwon Kurt Rambis
Season 2001-02-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 61 22.6 7.1 1.6 4.4 6.0 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.6 2.4 3.2 6.9 .464 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.4 .560
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 17.2 5.6 1.8 2.0 3.8 0.4 1.4 0.8 1.2 1.8 2.4 4.4 .545 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .667
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------